Forth Weekend.

It's been a busy weekend, and I've been crazy busy with this little one. I'm catching up, but you know, 7 or 8 months of a break is a lot to catch up in one day. I'm confident that good things are in store in life. As much pain and hard times are here, things are getting better, and things are not as they were. Greg preached a wonderful sermon this morning, and I tried to keep mom awake most of the time.

It was good to see all the SS class friends, and Kate was super excited after her Sunday School.

More soon, traveling tomorrow, but will be back after a quick trip to the coast tomorow for some more meetings, and life to happen. Kate loves the ride, and is the best travelling companion you could ask for. She's always ready to ride, and loves to point out "honka trucks" and "beetles."
Ok time for bed. I'm worn out, and all the outdoor activity of the weekend has taken it's toll... more rest for the weary.

Fallen off the face...

I know some of you wondered if I've fallen off the face of the earth. Well, in a sense I have. I'm back, and in Good hands... The hands. Over the next day or so, I'll try and catch you up on where I've been the last 7 months, and what God has done.

It will be frank, and honest, and if you are just here to read about what I killed in hunting season, then now is the time to delete the bookmark and come back in a few months. I think I shot 3 doves last year, and went hunting one time.

If you do want to know, where I've been, and don't mind reading about some real pain and suffering and some awful times, and some sin, and how God redeems, then stick around. He is good and he does redeem.

I've written several huge posts, and I'm going to re-read them since many of them were journaled on my blackberry while riding or driving (is that illegal??). And I don't know, maybe no one reads these any more, but it's stuff that until recently has weighed me down, and it's all coming off my shoulder and the load is lighter. Stick around.

the old train

I figure the siblings will like this one... remember the train we used to pull around... well Kate apparently had a run in with it at one point. Here she is at Mumsies.

She was a damn good dog.

(note: If you've never loved an animal please don't read any further just go somewhere else -- for the rest of you, I'm pretty sad so just bear with me)
Rosie (bobo) was Cammie and my first purchase together. We got her before we even got married. She went missing on Saturday and our neighbor found her today. She died within 50 yards of our house, and we had called and called for her, and looked all around. We feel pretty sure that someone, (possibly the mean neighbors in the back) poisoned her. She had been fenced in, but when her underground fence wire was cut she didn't seem to notice, and when she did last week, I made an appointment with Cammie to fix it... I guess it wasn't soon enough.

I can't say enough about what a really good dog she was. She didn't beg for food, didn't chew everything in sight. She was great with Kate (who doesn't even know). I'd love to have another like her. I just don't ever see having enough time to spend with her to train her as well, and she'll never be replaced in my heart. We had lots of great memories, her getting "the bird" and hunting with me, playing with Kate. Even the times she got really sick and created gross memories seem fond now.

Rosie, we'll miss you. There won't ever be another like you. Maybe one day Kate will get a granddog of your 20 offspring and raise and train her. You were a faithful partner Bobo, you never let me down. You always admitted when you did wrong. Often before we knew what you did, we knew you did something by that guilty look. You ate Cammie's Nativity scene when we were in Starkville, I'll never forget the laugh we shared after that. I though it was funny, Cammie thought it was a one of a kind heirloom. I'd let you eat anything in the house if you could come back for another 6 years (well anything except Kate). Farewell Bobo, you'll be missed.

29

I was watching a sitcom the other night, and the subject of age came up. One of the characters said "look age is just a number" the other retorted "yeah, a pretty important number!!!"
Important or not, my age is 365 days away from 30, and it does lend itself to some thinking about the past, and that my 20's are almost a thing of the past. I haven't made the million dollars that I was going to make by 30, so I guess I have a pretty busy year lined up too. ;) But I do have the sweetest child, and a great wife and lots to be thankful for. I was out of town (actually still am) last night and Cam sent me photo's of Kate who looked like she was dressed up like Tina Turner. That made my day. I got to have dinner with Cleatus (aka Christy) last night and that was really special. She's been a great little sis as long as I can remember. But since I'm getting so old, I guess my memory could be failing some. I also saw a few old friends while I was traveling around the countryside, and I'm amazed at how fast Starkville is changing. The downtown has really come alive, it was dead when I was there. Parking which every community complains about wasn't great, but it was closer than from the back of the wal-mart parking lot, to sporting goods on aisle 19.
I'm glad to see Starkville coming alive a little more. That's great. College kids seem so young these days, I don't remember them being that young looking in the past.
I also got to see my old Marketing Prof, Dr. Rob Moore, who gave me a pop quiz on his internet marketing class from the day. I was happy to know that I passed with flying colors. It was fun to get to share my success with him as he's encouraged me a ton over the years, and given me sound advice, and even tossed some good opportunities my way.

Enough reminiscing, even a birthday boy has to work to pay the bills!